Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen

Baroque splendour and botanical treasures

Baroque splendour and botanical treasures

The Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen in Hannover are among the most beautiful parks in Europe. Three styles of garden art are presented here in perfection. The “Großer Garten” (Great Garden) impresses with its Baroque ornamentation and superb fountains. The grotto designed by Niki de Saint Phalle adds colourful elements of modern art to the mix.

The Herrenhausen Palace, formerly summer residence of the Royal House of Hanover, was destroyed during the Second World War. It has now been rebuilt and houses a Congress Centre and museum. The architectural centre point of the gardens has been recreated to its former glory.

In the neighbouring Berggarten you can discover botanical treasures and glasshouses with blooming orchids and tropical plants. The idyllic Georgengarten is laid out in the style of an English landscape garden and is ideal for walks.

You can also pay a visit to the Sea Life Aquarium in the Berggarten or the Wilhelm Busch Museum in the Georgengarten, go on a fascinating guided tour and stop by at one of the restaurants or cafés in the gardens – with all this, you can easily spend a full and enjoyable day here. From May onwards the gardens are transformed into an outdoor festival hall: adorned with almost 60,000 summer flowers and 1,000 tub plants, they form the venue for diverse events such as the “KunstFestSpiele” Herrenhausen, the International Fireworks Competition, the “Kleines Fest im Großen Garten” and performances in the historical Garden Theatre. The regular evening illuminations in the Großer Garten are a further atmosphere-rich spectacle. On many summer evenings, the illuminations set the scene for relaxed strolls and picnics in the festively illuminated gardens. The current dates are announced on the internet.